The head of an advisory panel to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has defended the anti-graft body and refuted claims that the commission is too scared to probe high-profile politicians.

In a press release today, Operation Evaluation Panel head Hadenan Abdul Jalil said MACC had acted fairly, transparently and professional since its inception in 2009.

According to Hadenan, among political figures that have been charged are Hasbie Satar (Umno), Mohamad Norza Zakaria (Umno), Mohd Yahya Mat Sahri (PKR) and Wong Chuan How (DAP).

He added that the MACC had also managed to secure convictions against four of them - Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Umno), Abdul Rahman Bakri (Umno), Dr Mohd Khir Toyo (Umno) and Yap Soo Sun (Gerakan).

"Since the establishment of the MACC in 2009, our panel has observed that the MACC is committed towards their investigations into corruption, abuse of power and fraud involving politicians and other cases.

"Thus, the issue of MACC being afraid or gutless in their investigation does not arise," said Hadenan, who is a former auditor-general.

Silent on asset declaration

He urged Malaysians not to politicise the MACC's efforts as doing so would erode public confidence in an important public institution.

Hadenan was responding to speakers of a forum titled ‘Living beyond means’ organised by National Oversight and Whistleblowers (Now) on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.

Among others, speakers claimed that the MACC was "gutless" and failed to prosecute high profile politicians.

Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) chief Akhbar Satar said that the MACC has refused to invoke Section 29(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 to compel those who hold public office to declare their assets.

Hadenan's press release did not respond to Akhbar's allegation.